Before the crimson hue of anger could envelop him, John swiftly turned and pressed his hand against Mr. Longbottom's. "Different minds, different dreams," he whispered just as the Cruciatus Curse struck him. John's body convulsed under the curse's grip, the agony so intense it drained the color from his face. Yet, amidst the torment, he activated his psychic magic. "Not enough," he taunted, barely managing to lift his wand as if to challenge Neville further.
Neville, driven to the brink of madness by John's provocations, unleashed the Cruciatus Curse repeatedly, each time with more ferocity, as if trying to make John suffer for all the pain he himself had endured. Despite his resilience, John couldn't suppress a muffled groan as the curse's intensity escalated, his bones feeling as if they were being gnawed by ants, his heart as though it were being pierced by a sharp knife.
"Is that all you've got, Neville?" John goaded, his psychic magic working overtime to push Neville further into his frenzy. Neville, lost to his rage and oblivious to the gravity of repeatedly casting an Unforgivable Curse, aimed to torment John to death.
John's mind became a chaotic whirl, his consciousness blurring into oblivion. He could no longer form words, only screams of agony that would have echoed beyond the Shrieking Shack had he not prepared a silencing charm in advance.
Percy, awakened by the commotion, was initially confused upon seeing Neville casting the Cruciatus Curse on John over and over. However, catching sight of John's pained yet resolute expression, he understood. John seemed to be silently pleading, "Don't let my sacrifice be in vain."
Cursing under his breath, Percy's fingernails dug into his palm, drawing blood, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and helplessness. He knew intervening would render John's suffering pointless.
After another curse from Neville, John finally lost consciousness. A thread of blood connected him to the Longbottoms, activating a psychic link that opened a pathway to their memories. These memories appeared as countless fragmented pieces, scattered like snowflakes in a blizzard, each fragment a torn photograph impossible to piece together.
"The task is monumental," John murmured to himself, feeling a persistent ache in his heart that made him increasingly pale. "It seems I'll have to endure the Cruciatus Curse until these memories are mended."
With a wry smile, he contemplated the irony of his situation, fearing that Neville's relentless curses might indeed be the end of him, especially since he had threatened Neville's parents.
Picking up a fragment, John found an image of Mr. Longbottom in his school uniform. He continued his task, connecting the scattered pieces. Closing his eyes, golden threads emerged from his fingertips, and with a simple gesture, the fragments began to weave together, guided by the threads.
"Using blood could hasten the process," he thought, accelerating his efforts. The Longbottoms' memories gradually started to mend, scene by scene.
Outside, Neville, exhausted and filled with hostility, looked down at the unconscious John. "John, you forced my hand," he muttered, a wave of sadness washing over him. He couldn't bear the thought of the Star Society discovering John's true motives, preferring to shoulder the blame himself.
Resolved, Neville closed his eyes, ready to end it all. "Expelliarmus!" he exclaimed, but before he could complete his spell, an unseen force sent him flying, disbelief etched across his face. Neville gazed in disbelief at Percy, who stood unharmed, wand in hand. Confusion clouded his eyes as he asked, "Percy, aren't you supposed to be dead?" He watched, perplexed, as Percy frantically searched through his bag, retrieving two potions labeled 'Longbottom'. With care, he opened them and administered the contents to Neville's parents. As the potion took effect, a soft glow enveloped the Longbottoms, growing brighter by the second. A mist of light began to emanate from them, within which fleeting images of their lives played at a rapid pace.
Neville, still in a daze, managed to find his footing and approached the scene. "Percy, what's happening?" he asked, noticing John lying unconscious.
Percy, visibly frustrated and harboring a hint of resentment towards Neville, retorted, "Can't you see? John is healing your parents!"
"But... he said he wanted to make my parents disappear forever," Neville stammered, confusion turning to disbelief.
Percy shook his head, a mix of disappointment and urgency in his voice. "It was all to provoke you. We never harbored any hatred towards you. It was necessary to push you, to make you stronger."
Neville felt the ground beneath him give way as he collapsed, staring at his hands in horror, pondering the gravity of his actions. "Despite everything, you still have your stellar badge, don't you?" Percy sighed, trying to offer a glimmer of hope.
Yes, the stellar badge remained. Tears streamed down Neville's face as he looked between the glowing mist surrounding his parents and the still unconscious John. The realization that all these actions were meant to aid him hit hard, filling him with an overwhelming sense of regret. He began to punch the floor in despair, his fists bleeding from the impact.
"Enough, Neville," Percy intervened, unable to watch him inflict more pain upon himself. "Don't let John's efforts be in vain."
Neville ceased his self-punishment, kneeling silently, too ashamed to meet Percy's gaze.
Meanwhile, John, amidst his struggle to mend the fragmented memories, found solace in a shower of raindrops emitting a white light. "It's Percy," he realized, understanding that the potions given to the Longbottoms were aiding his task. The fragments touched by the rain began to rise, gravitating towards each other, slowly forming a complete image. As more pieces joined, a family portrait emerged, depicting Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom with a baby Neville in their arms.
The rain continued, aiding in the repair of the memories, filling in the gaps. John, feeling the toll of the Cruciatus Curse, fought to stay conscious, drawing strength from a recovery potion he had prepared himself. His efforts accelerated, and soon, the portrait neared completion.
However, as he worked, dark fragments began to fall from the sky, each carrying the haunting laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange and the agony of the Longbottoms under the Cruciatus Curse. These were the memories of their torture at the hands of the Death Eaters. John, realizing the gravity of these memories, feared for his place among his peers. "No, I can't be expelled," he thought, channeling more of his magical energy to stabilize himself and hasten the repair of the shattered memories.
Determined, John continued his work, each piece meticulously restored, a testament to the resilience and unyielding spirit of the Longbottom family. If they couldn't escape before the Longbottoms awoke, John's consciousness risked being trapped here indefinitely. The tremors within this space intensified, the repulsion growing so strong it threatened to crush and warp John's form. He was acutely aware that the Longbottoms' awakening was imminent. Clenching his teeth, he focused on repairing the final tenth of the fragments. As the last piece clicked into place, the entire space was engulfed in a brilliant white light that radiated from the fragments, enveloping John completely. The Longbottoms were awake.
The transition was abrupt. The oppressive atmosphere that had dominated the space moments before dissipated as if it had never been. John found himself standing in a room that was bathed in the soft, early morning light, the air fresh with a sense of new beginnings. The Longbottoms, Frank and Alice, were stirring from their long slumber, their eyes blinking open with a mixture of confusion and dawning realization.
John watched, his heart pounding in his chest, as the couple slowly sat up, their gazes locking onto each other with an intensity born of years lost in darkness. Words were unnecessary; their eyes spoke volumes of the love and resilience that had endured through their ordeal.
Turning his attention away from the tender reunion, John checked his own state. Miraculously, he felt whole again, his consciousness firmly anchored in his body. The harrowing experience of being nearly trapped in a fragmented memory had left him with a newfound appreciation for the fragility of the mind.
He knew he couldn't linger. The Longbottoms needed time to adjust, to reconnect with the world they had been torn from. With a final glance at the couple, who were now whispering to each other in hushed, emotional tones, John quietly exited the room.
The mission had been a success, but it was far from a victory celebration. The ordeal had exposed the vulnerabilities and dangers of delving too deeply into the mind's recesses. As John made his way back to report the outcome, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. The world of magic was vast and mysterious, filled with wonders and horrors in equal measure. Today, they had treaded on the thin line that separated the two, and emerged unscathed. But tomorrow was another day, and who knew what challenges it would bring?
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge